Blooms & Buds, March 2011

It's Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day at Carol's May Dreams Gardens.  Blooms are still far and few between, with the only plants in bloom being some of the Hellebore. No complaints here...in fact, I'd have none if it weren't for the trusty Hellebore. I have ordered more Hellebore (and other early blooming perennials) and am waiting for the shipment. I'm excited to get them planted.

(Click on the photos to enlarge. My SLR is in the Nikon repair shop so these are with my Cannon point and shoot. I think it does pretty well and have enjoyed using it more now while the other one is out of commission.)

The only shrubs in bloom are the Forsythia and Pieris. Again, it's not much, but it's more than in many places, so you don't hear me complaining. I am anxious, however, for some LUSH greenery and color. I know I need to be patient, though;-) It seems every year I get this way...impatient!  I am thankful for the pinks, blues, yellows and whites that I've found so far in my gardens and look forward to watching the show unfold.

There are buds on a few of the Narcissus and Hyacinth. As I was photographing the daffodil buds I also noticed one open flower on the Vinca...so that means there must be more on the way. I love the shade of purple. My neighbors daffodils are already in bloom. Mine are just a little slow to get going. I finally ordered more Narcissus (and other) bulbs online--although they won't be delivered until it's time for fall planting. I always forget to order, so it's probably just as well I've gotten it out of the way now, even if it does seem 'early'. Maybe next spring I'll have more variety to share.

Blooms:
Hellebore
Forsythia
Pieris Japonica 'Valley Valentine'
Buds that will soon burst forth:
Narcissus
Hyacinth
Crocus

These next few weeks will prove to be the 'turning point' in my garden, and new life will be popping up all over. There is bound to be quite a bit more 'excitement' here in April;-)
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*Have you stopped over to participate in the Gardeners' Sustainable Living Project? It will be 'open' until April 15th so you have plenty of time. I am giving away over 15 garden gifts including a Rain Barrel and a Composter. Be sure to check it out!

Words and photos ©Thanks for today.™, by Jan Huston Doble @ http://www.thanksfor2day.blogspot.com/

Not to be reproduced or re-blogged without express permission of the author.

'Winter, I am So Over You', A Muse Day Tribute to March

March means spring is on the way.

Daffodils.

New life.

Farewell to the doldrums and goodbye/good riddance to winter...

don't let the door hit you on the way out!

But it doesn't all happen on the first of March.

Ice on the birdbath speaks for itself!

Thanks to Mother Nature for providing a few early blooms.

Helleborus (just one of them) is in flower.

Another is budding.

The rest are still dormant with nary a bud.

But I will celebrate what is budding and blooming...

and wait patiently (NOT!) for the rest.

They say patience is a virtue.

Perhaps I am virtue-less at the moment.

Thankfully it will soon pass.

Forsythia buds are barely visible on the plants in my garden.

With hopes of a few flowers by March,

a few days ago I brought a couple of small branches inside.

To my delight, when introduced to indoor heat and water,

the barely visible buds swelled and opened.

This is what I was welcomed with today:

As I stand in my kitchen looking out to my back yard,

I can pretend the forsythia is really blooming out there!

Oh, it will bloom.

The buds will continue to grow and swell and pop.

Past experience tells me it will.

 But that time can't come soon enough for me!

I am greatly lacking in patience this year.

Winter, I am so over you.

Visit Carolyn for Muse Day at Sweet Home and Garden Chicago.

Words and photos ©Thanks for today.™, by Jan Huston Doble @ http://www.thanksfor2day.blogspot.com/

Not to be reproduced or re-blogged without express permission of the author.

The GGW Photo Contest I 'Almost' Entered On Time!

Spring has (most definitely) sprung in my neck of the woods!

In a matter of days the garden has gone through a wondous transformation.

Flowers open in what seems like just a blink of an eye.

I wish my budget had room for some time-lapse photography equipment!

It would be fantastic to watch the unfoldings in action. 

Nature is dynamic!

Our limited human perceptions keep us from catching the changes as they happen.

But that didn't stop me on Sunday, March 21st, from trying my best to capture a few of the changes during this busy blooming time.

I had been trying to find just the right 'miraculous moment' to capture a photo which demonstrates an 'awakening'...the topic for this months 'Picture This' photography contest at Gardening Gone Wild.  Unfortunately I was unable to go through my photos and make a post in time. The following photos would have been my 'finalists':

If I could have had a photo ready in time, it would have been one of the last four shots of the forsythia greens just literally popping out to greet the universe. Probably the very last one would have been my choice.  Which one would you have chosen, if you were me?

Oh well...I don't need a medal or award--as nice as that might be, someday. 'Awesome' doesn't begin to describe what I've been seeing around here these days!

*PS: If anyone would like to help me identify my daffodil varieties and three hellebore varieties, I'd be very appreciative;-) (The tags have disintegrated and/or gotten lost and I had not made a note of them). 

Happy Spring, my friends!

Today I am thankful that spring has finally arrived in my yard;-)

Words and photos ©Thanks For Today, by Jan Huston Doble